Straw-stacker for threshing-machines.



PATENTED DQT. 3, 1905.

' 0. 0. ZIMMERMAN. STRAW STAGKBR POR THRESHING MACHINES.

- APPLICATION ILED NO V. 24- 1902- 5 SHEETS SHEET 1 No. 800,705. I'PATENTBD 00T. 3, 1905.

0. C. ZIMMERMAN.

STRAW STACKER FOR THRESHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NDV. 24.1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

0. 0. ZIMMBRMA'N. f

STRAW STAGKER PoR THRBSHINGMAGHINBS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24 1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATBNTED 00T. 3,1905.

O. C. ZIMMBRMAN. STRAW STACKER POR THRESHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24.1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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' v PATENTBD OCT. s, 1905. o. c. ZIMMERMAN.

STRAW STAGKER POR THRESHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV'- 24A 1902.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STAIQ ORRl-N C. ZIMMERMAN, OF GHAIIN, IOVA.-

STRAW-STACKER FOR THRESHlNG-NIACHINESt Specification of Letters Patent.

atcnted Oct. 3,J 1905.

Application tiled November 24, 1902. Serial No. 132,520.

To all lull/m11, it ln/ty colmar/t:

Be it known that I, ORRINU. ZIMMERMAN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Chapin, in the county of Franklin, State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Straw-Stackers forrIhrcshing-h/Iachines, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

In automatic straw-stackcrs as now commonly constructed the straw chuteor elevator is ordinarily supported not only by the turn-table, butalsoby rods, cables, or the like, that extend back to the top of the frameof the separator, at the rear of which the straw chute or elevator ismounted.

One main object of the present invention is to provide a straw chute orelevator that shall be, as it were, self-contained, so that its seetionsmay be supported bythe turn-table without the necessity of rods orcables extending from the chute or elevator to the separatorframe.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawingsthe straw chute or elevator is shown as mounted upon a turntablesupported at the rear end of thescparator; but it will be readilyunderstood that inasmuch as the straw chute or elevator is su pported bythe turn-table independently of connections leading to the top of theseparator the invention might be readily and advantageously employed bymounting the turn-table upon a separate truck.

The straw-stackers that are now most cornmonly used in connection withthreshing-machines may be divided into two general classes. In the oneclass the straw is raised to the required height along a stacker frameor elevator by means of endless belts or like conveyer mechanism. In theother class (commonly known as Lpneumatic stackers) the straw is carriedto the required height through a trunk or chute by a strong' blast ofair.

So far as I am aware the present invention presents the first instanceof stacking mechanism for threshing-machines comprising a travelingconveyer working within a chute and serving to carry the straw to thestack in combination with a pneumatic tube or airblast pipe, wherebymaterial is delivered into the chute so that it can be carried along thechute by the conveyer mechanism.

rIhe conveyer type of straw-stacker is preferred by many users, but isobjectionable in that no adequate provision has been heretofore made forcarrying away the chaff from the separator. One main object is toovercome this objection; and to such end the invention broadly consistsin combining with a straw-stacker having suitable conveyer mechanism,whereby the straw is delivered onto the stack, of an air-blast pipeadapted to receive and discharge the chaff. Preferably the straw passesfrom the separator-rakes directly into the straw chute or elevatorseparate from the chaff; but the inventionis designed to cover thegeneral feature of a stacker with conveyer mechanism to discharge strawonto the stack in combination with an air-blast pipe for receivingthechaff, whether the straw issue directly from the rakes onto theconveyeror be delivered otherwise thereto. In the preferred form ofapparatus the pneumatic chaff-trunk has its discharge end arranged todeliver the chaff into the strawelevator, so that it may be dischargedwith the straw.

A further feature of the specific embodiment of the invention isproviding the pneumatic chaff-trunk with ahinged or swivel portionadapted to swing with the straw-elevator and its conveyer mechanism.

Figure l is a view in side elevation of the rear end of athreshing-machine having my invention appliedvthereto. Fig. 2 is a viewsimilar to Fig. l from the opposite side of the machine, but showing theupper section of the straw elevator or stacker turned backward over therear end of the thresher. Fig. 3 is a View in central verticallongitudinal section through the parts shown in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 4 isan enlarged View, in horizontal section, through the chaff-trough andits fan, the turn-table of the straw elevator or stacker frame beingshown in elevation. Fig. 5 is an enlarged View, in vertical section, online 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View in perspective,showing an improved fastener for connecting the bars of thestraw-conveyer to their endless belts. Fig. 7 is a detail perspectiveview showing the manner of applying the fastener illustrated in Fig. 6.

A designates the rear end of the threshingmachine, that will be providedWith rakes a or like means for carrying the straw to the tail A of themachine, whence 1t will pass down the incline c into the lower section Bof the straw chute or elevator. As shown, this straw chute or elevatoris formed of lower and upper sections B and B', that are hinged togetherat their abutting ends, and through these sections travel the endlessconveyer-belts C, to

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which are attached the cross bars or slats c. In order to securely andeffectively connect the cross bars or slats c to the convcyer-belts C, Ihave devised the fasteners I). (Illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 of thedrawings.) These fasteners are preferably formed of sheet metal withsides (l and d to receive the rivets (l2, that pass through the ends ofthe slats c, the sides (Z al being connected by the back (Z3, perforatedto receive the bolt or rivet (Z4, that also passes through the end ofthe corresponding slat. The sides (l and CZ are -prolonged, as shown,and are separated a su flicient distance to receive the belt C at thecorresponding side of the conveyer, and the end portions of the sides (Zand al are perforated to permit the fastener to be securely riveted tothe belt, as at (Z5. r1`he fastener D affords a most effective means forconnecting the bars or slats c to the conveyer-belts C and areparticularly advantageous in that they allow the slats c to be securedto the fasteners inboth vertical and horizontal direction. TheconVeyer-belts C pass over suitable pulleys mounted upon transverseshafts journal'ed in the sections of the straw chute or elevator, theseshafts being driven, preferably, by sprocket-wheels c c and asprocket-chain c2.

In order to enable the outer section B of the stacker chute or elevatorto be raised and lowered, I prefer to provide the rear end of thissection B with the angular bars or brackets F, that are bolted to thesides of the chute and extend upwardly and forwardly, as shown in Fig.1, the apex of each of these bars or brackets F having connected theretoa winding cord or cablef, that passes downward and around a winding-drumon a winding-shaft G, that is journaled in the lower section Bof thestraw chute or elevator. One end of the shaft (1`r(see Fig. 2) isprovided with a crank-handle f7 and with a ratchet-wheel f/ andretainingpawl g2. By turning the shaft G the operator can raise andlower the outer section B of the straw chute or elevator in keeping withthe height of the stack to be constructed.

The lower section B of the straw chute or elevator is mounted upon aturn-table H, the section B being braced by the bars B2, that extendupward from the turn-table. By reference more particularly to Figs. l to4 it will be seen that the extreme lower ends of the side bars of thesection B are mounted upon a transverse bar L", that is secured to theturn-table, while the lower ends of the bracebars B2 are secured to atransverse bar 71, bolted to the turn-table. By this construction thelower section B is held stationarily with respect to the turn-table Hand in a vertically-inclined position. Hence it will 'be seen that asthe turn-table is revolved in mannertobe presently described therelatively stationary section B of thel straw chute or elevator and thehinged section B' will be swung; but these sections will at all times besustained by a turn-table and :without the necessity of employing anyrods orcables leading to the top of the separator-frame. As shown, theturn-table H comprises .an annular track H2, having flanges L, withinwhich set the antifriction-rollers ft2, that are carried by brackcts h3,bolted to the end frame K, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of thedrawings. The end frame K is preferably formed of a U- shaped metal bar,bent as shown, the inner ends of this'bar being suitably secured to therear end of the main frame of the threshingmachine.

Centrally through the turn-table H passes a bearing-sleeve 2, throughwhich extends a short vertical shaft 3, the lower end of which carries asprocket-wheel 4, while its upper end is provided with a bevelgear-wheel 5. The sprocket-wheel 4 is connected by chains 6 with asprocket-wheel 7, that is connected by bevel-gears 8 and 9 with thedrive-shaft 10, suitably journaled upon the end frame K. The beveledgear-wheel 5 at the top of the shaft 2 meshes with a beveled pinion 12,that is keyed to a shaft 13, that is journaled in suitable brackets 14,that rise from the tu rn-table H. The outer end of the shaft 13 carriesa gear-wheel 15, that meshes with a corresponding gear-wheel 16, that iskeyed to one end of the shaft G', that is journaled in the lower end ofthe section B of the straw chute or elevator. To the turn-table H isfixed an annular rack or gear 20, with which meshes a pinion 21, that iskeyed to a short vertical shaft 22, (see Fig. 4,) this shaft 22 beingprovided with a worm-wheel 23, that meshes with a worm 24, fixed to ashaft 25, jou rnaled beneath the frame K. rlhe inner end of the shaft.25 is provided with a beveled pinion 26, adapted to be driven by eitherof the clutchpinions 27 and 28 in manner well understood by thosefamiliar with this class of devices. The clutch-pinions 27 and 28 aremounted upon a shaft suitably geared to the driveshaft 10, and anysuitable provision may be made for shifting the pinions 27 and 28 sothat either of these pinions may be brought into gear with the pinion26. It will be understood that motion is transmitted from thedrive-shaft 10 through the cluteh-pinions 27 and 28 to the shaft 25, theworm 24 and worm-wheel 23 and the pinion 21 and rack 2O to theturn-table H, thereby causing this table to swing back and forth inorder to bring the straw chute or elevator to the desired position fordirecting the straw onto the stack.

From side to side of the end frame K extends a trough L, the .open topof which is beneath the rear end of the separator-conveyer ct and inposition to receive the chaff as it passes therefrom. The chaff-trough Lis connected to the casing L of the fan L, and preferably this casingand fan are located centrally of the trough, the two sections of thetrough entering the eyes L3 of the fan.

lhe fan L3 is mounted upon a shaft M, that is journaled in suitablebearings at the sides of the frame K. One end of the shaft M isfurnished witha drive-pulley m, while the opposite end of the shaft isprovided with a pulley m', from which motion will be transmitted, as bya belt m2, to a pulley 'm3 upon the drive-shaft 10. Upon the shaft M arear-l ranged the spiral blades or arms M', that serve to agitate thechaff and move it toward the eyes L of the fan-casing Ll and insure thatit shall be drawn int-3 the casing L by the suction of the fan L2. Fromthe rear edge of the trough L extends upwardly the end plate or wallL'r, that joins the base a. of' the discharge end of' the machine.

From the fan-easing L' and through the end plate or wall L5 extendslupwardly the chaff trunk or chute N, whereby the discharge of the chaffis effected. In the preferred form of the invention the upper end of thechafftrunk N extends rearwardly and is bent downwardly, as shown in Fig.3, its lower end being provided with an extension P, that is connectedby a swivel-joint p with the depending lower end of' the trunk N. (SeeFigs. 3 and 5.) The swivel extension P of the chaff-trunk is expandedlaterally, as at P', as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of' the drawings, and isturned upwardly. as shown in Fig. 3, so as to distribute the chaff fromside to side of the straw chute or elevator and drive it upwardly intothe straw that is discharging from the tail of the machine and .is beingcarried -away by the conveyer mechanism of' the straw-chute. Byreference more particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be seenthat the center of oscillation of the extension P of the chaff-trunk isconcentric with the center of' oscillation of the straw chute orelevator, and inasmuch as the expanded mouth of the trunk extension Plies between the sides of' the straw-chute sec tion B it will be seenthat the extension P ofl the chaff-trunk will swing in unison with thestraw chute or elevator.

lt is manifest that the details of construc` tion above set out may bevaried within wide limits without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecu re by Letters Patent, is'- 1. In a straw-stacker, the combinationwith a straw chute or elevator having suitable trav cling conveyermechanism therein for mechanically delivering the straw onto the stack,of' an air-blast pipe through which material will pass from thethreshing apparatus to the chute and means for forcing air through saidairblast pipe.

2. In a straw-stacker, the combination with a straw-chute having abottom and side walls and with an endless traveling conveyer operatingin said chute to convey the straw through said chute, of' an air-blastpipe having its inner end arranged to receive material from thethreshing apparatus and having its outerend arranged to deliver saidmaterial to the chute.

3. `In a straw-stacker` the combination with a straw-chute having abottom and side walls and having' an endless traveling carrier thereint0 convey the straw to the stack, of an airblast pipe extending betweenthe threshing apparatus and the chute, the discharge end of saidair-blast pipe being arranged to turn laterally with the movements of'the chute.

4. In a straw-stacker, thc combination with the straw chute or elevatorhaving' suitable traveling conveyer mechanism therein for mechanicallydelivering the straw onto the stack, of an air-blast pipe adapted toreceive the chaff and means for producing' a blast of' air to cause thepassage of chaff through said pipe.

5. 1n a straw-stacker, the combination with the straw chute or elevatorhaving suitable traveling conveyer mechanism therein for mechanicallydelivering the straw onto the stack,

of' an air-blast pipe adapted to receive the chaff, said pipe having itsdischarge end arranged to deliver the chaff to the straw chute orelevator and means for producing a blast of' air to cause the passageof' chaff through said pipe.

' 6. In a straw-stacker, the combination with the straw chute orelevator having suitable endless conveyer mechanism therein for raisingthe straw, of' an air-blast pipe adapted to receive the chaff separatedfrom the straw, the discharge end of said pipe being connected to swingin unison with the straw chute or elevator and means for producing ablast of air to cause the passage of chaff through said pipe.

7. In a straw-stacker, the combination with the straw chute or elevatorhaving endless conveyer mechanism therein for raising the straw, of' anair-blast pipe arranged to discharge into the inner end of thestraw-chute and provided at its discharge end with a swivel extensionarranged to swing in unison with the straw chute or elevator.

8. In a straw-stacker, the combination with the straw chute or elevatorhaving conveyer mechanism therein for raising the straw, of an air-blastpipe adapted to receive the chaff separated from the straw, thedischarge end of said pipe being provided with a swinging extensionhaving a laterally-expanded mouth arranged opposite the straw chute orelevator.

9. In a straw-stacker, the combination with the straw chute or elevatorhaving suitable mechanical conveyer mechanism therein for raising thestraw, of a trough adapted to receive the chaff, an air-blast pipeconnected to said trough for carrying away the chaff the discharge endof said pipe being' arranged in proximity to the inner end of' thestraw-chute and a fan for forcing the chaff through said pipe.

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4: l Boones 10. In astraw-stacker, the combination with the straw chuteor elevator having suitable mechanical conveyer mechanism therein forraising the straw, of a trough arranged to receive the chaff as it fallsfrom the separator mechanism, a fan-casing connected to said trough,` afan within said casing and achalftrunk leading from said fan-casing andhaving its discharge end in proximity to the inner end of the strawchute or elevator.

1 1. 1n a straw-stacker, the combination with the straw chute orelevator having suitable traveling conveyer mechanism therein forraising the straw, of an open trough arranged to receive the chaff as itissues from theseparator, a shaft within said trough provided withstirring-blades, a fan-casing communicating with said trough, a fancarried by said shaft and a chaff-trunk leadingr from said fancasing tothe inner end of the straw-chute to carry away the chaff.

12. 1n astraw-stacker, the combination of a turn-table and means forrevolving the same, a straw chute or elevator having conveyer mechanismtherein for receiving the straw, said chute being formed of two sectionshinged together, the lower section being mounted stationarily upon theturn-table, an endless traveling conveyer within said straw-chute fordelivering the straw to the stack and an ai r-blast pipe adapted toreceive material from the threshingmachine1 and convey it to the innerend of the straw-chute.

.13. In a strawstacker,the combination with the swinging straw chute orelevator having conveyer mechanism therein for raising' the straw, of anair-blast pipe adapted to receive the chaff separated from the straw,said airblast pipe being provided at its discharge end with an extensionarranged in proximity to said straw chute or carrier and pivoted toswing concentric therewith.

14. In astraw-stacker the combination with the straw chute or elevatorhaving conveyer mechanism therein for raising the straw, of a turn-tablewhereon said chute or elevator is mounted, a transverse shaft at thebase of said chute or elevator, suitable gearing connecting said shaftto the conveyer mechanism, a central shaft extending upwardly throughsaid turn table and geared to said transverse. shafts, an annular rackcarried by said turn-l table, gearing engaging said rack and whereby theswinging of the turn-table is effected, a` grooved annular rail fixed'tosaid turn-table"y and antifriction-rollers engaging said groovedi rails.

O RRIN C. ZIMMERMAN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE A. STEARNS, IGNATZ WERNERT.

